RUSI of Queensland

RUSI QLD: What's On

The RUSI Qld holds lecture meetings on the 3rd Wednesday of the months February through to November. All interested persons in sympathy with the aims of the Institute and all Service Personnel whether serving, in Reserve or Retired are always welcome at RUSI Lectures, irrespective of whether they are members. Guests are most welcome.

Lectures are held at RUSI Hall, Victoria Barracks, Petrie Terrace, Brisbane and the Telephone No is 07 4233 4420.

A Constituent Body of the Royal United Services Institute of Australia

ABN: 91025331202

NOTICE OF LECTURE 18THJULY 2018 @ 1145HRS Meet and Greet.

Most important!

Please note that this lecture is bound by Chatham House Rules!

TOPIC: Current and future threats to Australia’s National Security

We live in an increasingly complex and turbulent world. Our news cycle is dominated by stories of Jihadist terrorism and the corporate nature of Al Qaeda and its affiliates, trafficking oil, drugs and antiquities to fund its ambitions.

All too often there are also stories of Australians who have been radicalised and pose a threat domestically and overseas. We also have concerns regarding our largest trading partner’s ambitions in our shared region and old and trusted allies appear to repudiate their leadership of alliances built up since WW2.

Another major concern is the hacking of highly sensitive and what should be secure data within our major Military, Government and Private Sectors.

Against this backdrop, our guest speaker shall be highlighting some of the challenges confronting Australia’s future.

A list of those attending has to be provided to the lecturer 24hrs before the lecture. Please understand only those who have expressed their desire to attend by the RSVP date and time will be admitted to RUSI Hall. RSVP BY MIDDAY 16thJULY 2018.

Sarah Percy has three main research areas. She has a long-standing interest in unconventional combatants, and has published widely on mercenaries, private military companies, and pirates.

Sarah is interested in issues of maritime security generally, including piracy and counter piracy, maritime crime, and the role of navies as security anchors. She also conducts research at the nexus between international relations and international law. Sarah is also interested in how and why the use of force is regulated, and the relationship between norms and international law. Sarah is also an experienced media commentator.

Before joining the Air Force in 1989, Air Commodore Ken Robinson worked for five years in the private sector. Following initial officer training he was posted to No 114 Mobile Control and Reporting Unit (114MCRU) where Air Commodore Robinson deployed on numerous exercises throughout Northern and Western Australia as the adjutant of 114MCRU. Other posts that followed as a junior officer and Squadron Leader included that of recruitment officer, career manager, workforce planner and staff officer to Director General Personnel - Air Force.

Air Commodore Robinson completed his MBA in 2001 and is also a graduate of the Australian Command and Staff Course (2004). He subsequently held command of No 28 Squadron throughout 2005. During this first command tour, Air Commodore Robinson was briefly assigned to the Military Justice Implementation Team. In 2006, Air Commodore Robinson was appointed Director of Personnel Reserves and, in the 2008 Australia Day Honours List, he was awarded the Conspicuous Service Cross for his service as the Director. Air Commodore Robinson commenced his second command appointment in January 2009, as commanding officer of No 324 Combat Support Squadron (324CSS) at Butterworth, Malaysia—leading the logistic and administrative support to Australian Defence Force activities throughout South East Asia.

During his three years in Malaysia, Air Commodore Robinson was force assigned to Joint Operations Command on four occasions as the national commander of the Army, Navy and Air Force elements participating in Five Power Defence Arrangements exercises in South East Asia. In November 2011, Air Commodore Robinson relinquished command of 324CSS to take up the appointment on promotion of Director of Coordination in Air Force Headquarters. In June 2013, Air Commodore Robinson deployed on Operation SLIPPER as the Chief of Staff within the national command headquarters of Joint Task Force 633. On completion of his deployment in January 2014, Air Commodore Robinson took up the appointment as Air Force’s Director of Personnel. In December 2016, Air Commodore Robinson was promoted to Air Commodore and became Commander Combat Support Group and is responsible for Air Force’s airbase operations and expeditionary combat support capabilities.